What does the acronym FERC stand for?

The acronym FERC stands for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This independent agency within the U.S. Department of Energy is crucial in regulating the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. Its responsibilities include overseeing the energy market, ensuring fair rates for consumers, and promoting the development of reliable energy infrastructure.

One of the commission's key roles is to review and approve proposals for new and upgraded energy facilities and to enforce compliance with reliability standards. This regulation is particularly relevant to the NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards, as FERC's oversight helps ensure that the bulk power system operates reliably and securely.

In contrast, the other choices describe various entities that do not exist or serve different functions. They may resemble FERC's role but do not accurately represent the name or mandate of the organization established to oversee energy regulation in the United States.